Cylinder rotating mechanism for revolvers



June 7, 1949.

cYLI

Filed oct. 14, 1946 M. D. YouKl-:R 2,472,326

NDER ROTATING MECHANISM FOR REVOLVERS 2 Sheets-Sheet l M. D. YOUKER June 7, 1949.

CYLINDER ROTATING MECHANISM Fon REvoLvERs 2 She'ets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1946 Patented June 7, V1949 CYLINDER ROTATING MECHANISM FR REVOLVERS Mildred Dodge Youker, Los Angeles, Calif., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Malcolm P. Youker, Santa Rosa, Calif.

Application October 14, 1946, Serial No. 703,160

11 Claims. l

My invention relates to revolvers, and included in the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a revolver which employs a novel mechanism for rotating the cylinder whereby the cylinder is effectively locked in position at the instant of firing.

Second, to provide in a revolver a novel cylin der rotating mechanism which may be adapted for use in either toy or cap shooting pistols or may be arranged for use in cartridge firing or service pistols.

Third, to provide a cylinder rotating mechanism for revolvers which is particularly simple and economical of manufacture as well as effective and dependable in its operation.

With the above and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of my revolver as adapted for use as a cap or toy pistol.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view thereof taken through 2--2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Figure 2 but showing the parts during initial movement of the trigger.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view taken from the opposite side of the revolver from Figure 5 and showing particularly the construction of the hammer.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view through 'I-l of Figure 2 showing particularly the cylinder rotating means.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view also illustrating particularly the cylinder rotating means.

Figure 9 is a composite diagrammatical view showing the relationship of the barrel rotating or thrust member, the cam track and the coacting cam lug elements in their various relative positions in a cycle of operation of the revolver.

My revolver, as illustrated in the drawings, is shown as adapted for use as a cap pistol or toy pistol but the cylinder revolving mechanism which will be described hereinafter is equally adaptable for use in a Icartridge `firing or service pistol.

5 and clamp forwardly of the cylinder opening'5 a barrel 6. Suitable screws l secure the two frame plates together.

At the forward side of the cylinder opening 5 the frame plates form complementary recesses which receive and hold a journal pin 8 which extends axially into the cylinder opening 5. The journal pin 8 supports a cylinder 9 which isv rotatable in the cylinder opening 5 and is, in the case of a toy revolver, shaped to simulate the cartridge containing cylinder 9 of a conventional revolver. For purposes which will be brought out hereinafter the cylinder 9 is capable of limited axial movement on the journal pin 8 within the extremities of the cylinder opening 5. A spring I0 yeldably retains the cylinder 9 in its rearward position.

The breech end of the cylinder 9 forms astriking face I I which is adapted to receive a conventional toy or cap sheet A shown in some of the figures. The cap sheet is held in place by a ring of cam lugs or minor or supplementary cam elements I2 each of which is beveled on one side. The frame plates I and 2 are provided with complementary cam bosses I3 in which are formed depressions I4 shaped to mate with diametrically disposed pairs of cam lugs I2. The arrangement of the cam lugs and the depressions in the cam bosses are such that when they are in proximate registry they cause slight arcuate movement of the cylinder 9 when ythe cylinder 9 is moved from a forward position to a rearward position. The function of the `cam lugs in causing such arcuate movement will be brought out in more detail hereinafter.

The striking face lI of the cylinder 9 is surrounded by an annular cam track I5 in the form of a channel comprising a circumferentially spaced series of helically sloping cam faces' or major or primary cam elements I6 separated by keeper recesses I'I. Mounted vand guided between the frame plates I and 2 for axial movement into and out of the cam track I5 is a cylinder thrust or drive pin I8. The pin I8 is provided with a cross head I9 the extremities of which ride in guide channels 20 formed in the frame plates l and 2. The cross head I9 is engaged by a trigger lever 2I journaled at its mid-portion on a trigger pivot 22 extending from one of the frame plates. The trigger lever 2| extends into the trigger guard 4 and terminates in a trigger 23.

A spring 24 so engages the trigger lever 2| as to hold the trigger 23 in a forward position and to hold the drive pin I8 in yits rearward or retracted position. A hammer k'25 lis 3 journaled between the frame plates I and 2 on a pivot 26. The hammer includes a head 21 adapted to engage the striking face II and a cocking arm 28 projecting upwardly through an accommodation slot dened between the frame plates I and 2. A drive spring 29 is arranged 4tozurge the hammer headfZI'i toward the striking plate. The hammer'25 carries a trip lever 30 backed by a spring 3|. The trip lever 3D is so positioned that when the trigger-` lever ZI is rotated to thrust .the ..drive.-pin,.,I.8 forwardly, the upper extremity of' 'the trigger lever engages the trip lever 30 in a direction to rotate the hammer headLZIliawayl'tromhthe striking face II. After the'hammervhasthus been drawn back a predetermined distance the trigger lever 2| clears the tripi-lever:3.:.-releas ing the hammer.

During the forward movement of the-cylinder drive pin I8, the pin bears against one of the cam -faces I6 .so as to rotate the cylinder.9. .Justiprior to release of the .hammer'i2 5,-.the drive or thrust pin I8 enters 4a keeper recess yI'I :and locks the cylinder against.rotation.in seitherudirection. During the movement-.lof fthe fthrust .ora'drive pin I.3 into .the keeper :recess the hammer is released. `Thus,.at the :timerthe .h ammerfengagesr .the striking iaceof vthe cylindex-:9, the ,cylinder is vlocked against rotation.

fIIhednitial pressure of the drive `pin .I8 ,against the cylinder '9 forces the cylinder orwardlynr axially-:until the cam lugs I2 clear the .depresf'sions 14. When the trigger is released J.andtzthe thrust-.or drive pin I8 is withdrawn `fromthe vkeeperrecess I1, :the spring ID .urges ...thezcam lugs I2 into engagement with the zdepressions I4, and as soon as the drive or thrust-:pinfd .clears thecam track `the cam lugscause'ithe .cylindew-S :to rotate a slight distance to Sbring .tha-succeeding cam face I6 into Ypositionxfor :engagement by the thrust or drivepin '18.

:"Iofremove or load a new capsheet Aonto Vthey cylinder '9 it is merely l'necessary toizpress .the-.cylinder' forwardly .against :the .actionpf f the -spring .II'U until the lugs I2 `clearzthexde- :pressions VIII and then insert the;cap.zsheet.

vthe-gun be designed for :the ring nicarftridges, :conventional cartridge chambers :are formed in the :cylinder 9 andthe rear;ends'.of such Vchambers -are arranged so. that thedetonating.. heads of .the cartridges .are-exposed .for engagement by 4the hammer.

flvlanyfother embodiments of the inventionzmay -be resortedto Without departing tromtherspirit of the invention.

HII.' claim:

1.. Av revblvencomprising: :a framestructure; fafrcylinderv journaled' therein, an .annular cam :track-.in .theV form of a channel 4recessed 'in "the breecheend of Vsaid cylinder, said cam 'track iincludinga circumferential series of cam 'faces `:separated by keeper recesses; and `a camen ,gaging amember mounted within lsaid 1frame structurer'for-movement into and out ,of -said `c'amwtraclgthe slope of said cam faces being :sucht thatzupon movement of said lmem-berinto 4:said 'camztrack. a partial yrotation 'is applied l'to said: cylinder, .said keeper recesses receiving said .memberiupon completion of such partial rota- :tionz-:to lock said cylinder until said ymem-ber is withdrawn.

2.55Aurevolver, comprising: arframe structure; dri-:.-iicylinder journaled` therein, a seriesA Aif-main sami .and :minor .cam elements `l disposedrabouta mommorrcentenrat theibre'ecnend 'offsaid cylinmeans coacting with said minor cam elements when said member is disengaged from said main ,camzlelementsntoadvancesaid'cylinder for co- Iaction:.fbetweenmsaid member'andr a succeeding main cam element.

13. A revolver as set forth in claim 2 wherein ...keepenmeans .are vinterposed between said main .cam 'elements for engagement by said member to lock said cylinder against rotation.

imam-'revolver :comprising: a rotatable cylin- IEf=derf1includinga^cam track disposed in a circle #at 'its 4breechend-"having a series of cam faces fshaped:topproduceV partial rotation of the cylinder when subjected to a thrust parallel to the axisf said cylinder, and keeper depressions between said cam faces; a thrust member en- ;.gageable Witnsaidfzcamj'aces vto .rotate said cylinder a predetermined .f .distance :and z there- .upon :engagea-ble Withffsaid keeper depressions -to vlock. Asaid':cylindertagainst further rotation;

5 :meansisupporting-said: cylinder for limitedaxial movement in response to engagement of said thrustmember-wthnsad camj faces; .and means @per-able :byf-axial.movement:of said cylinder as said thrust :.member iris #withdrawn from said keeper 'depression to advance said cylinder .for

coaction between said thrust member and the succeeding cam face.

2A revolver: comprising: `airamc structure .dening a cylinder opening; :.a `cylinder mounted 3.-, within said opening and arranged for rotation .andaxial movement;.aa :circular cam track at thefbreech end @of said cylinder, 'said cam track having cam `faces shaped :tozproduce .partial rotation.offthepylinderfwhen subjected to thrust in parallel tofthetaxis loffsaid cylinder; .a thrust arnember4 mounted withinzsaid `face structure .and engageableavithasald'camiiaces to eiect a pre- :determined partial-rotation .of said cylinder, L and to urge said cylinder axially; .and Vmeans incorporating vthe lbreechxend `of `said chamber and said frame structurenoperable to advance said v cy-lirnzerbetween thrusts .of :said f thrust imember to; present a; new cam-:face

6. A revolver comprising::.a:frame structure;

yflic va .cylinder axially-and rotatably vmounted therein;

imam and;'supplementaryacoacting cam and cam engagingfmeanszcarriedzby vsaid cylinder and `said frame structure; said main means including a wreciprocableithrustnnembencarried by said frame ,155 struotureandn cam .elementscarried by said frame fO -.to..present.a.succeeding cam.

frame structure engageable upon reciprocation of vsaid 'cylinderto advance said ucylinder thereby to present a succeeding cam;- and a trigger lever for actuating said "th-rustmember.

8.2A2ftoy-wrevolver, comprising: -a- -frame struc- Sturm-ia. cylinder Jjournaled-`therein and capable i VAJ of limited axial movement; main and minor cam elements arranged in concentric circles at the breech end of said cylinder; a device carried by said frame for coaction with said minor cam elements; yieldable means normally urging said minor cam elements into engagement with said device to restrain said cylinder against rotation; a thrust member engageable with said main -cam elements to effect partial rotation of said cylinder, said thrust member operable to shift said cylinder against said yieldable means to free said minor cam elements.

9. A toy revolver, comprising: a frame structure; a cylinder journaled therein and capable of limited axial movement; primary and secondary cam elements disposed at the breech end of said cylinder; yieldable means tending to 'hold said cylinder in a rearward position; a thrust member engageable with said primary cam elements and cooperating therewith to effect partial rotation of said cylinder, said thrust member also operable to shift said cylinder forwardly against the action of said yieldable means; and a device carried by said frame engageable with said secondary cam elements to eiect supplementary partial rotation of the cylinder as said thrust member is retracted.

10. A toy revolver, comprising: a frame structure; a cylinder journaled therein and capable of limited longitudinal movement; a primary and secondary set of cam elements disposed at the breech end; yieldable means tending to hold said cylinder in an axially rearward position; a device incorporated in said frame structure engageable With said secondary set of cam elements as said cylinder is moved rearwardly to effect partial rotation of said cylinder and thereupon to restrain said cylinder against rotation; and a thrust member mounted in said frame structure and engageable With said primary cam elements, said thrust member moving said cylinder forwardly to free said secondary cam elements from said device and thereupon to cooperate with said primary cam elements to eiect partial rotation of said cylinder.

11. A toy revolver as set forth in claim 10 wherein: said primary cam elements are inthe form of recesses in said cylinder and each element terminates in a socket receiving said thrust member to lock said cylinder against rotation until said thrust member is withdrawn.

MILDRED DODGE YOUKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,077,135 Guerrero Oct. 28, 19.13 2,046,652 Peake July 7, 1936 2,087,193 Jones ..i July 13, 1937 2,088,891 Brubaker Aug. 3, 1937 

